49ers: 4 players who can be No. 1 option on offense in 2021

No. 3: 49ers Wide Receiver Deebo Samuel

Like Raheem Mostert, wide receiver Deebo Samuel‘s 2020 campaign was drastically impacted by serious injuries, which limited the second-year pro to a mere seven games played and only 417 total yards.

The hope is, just like Mostert, Samuel returns this season with a clean slate of health and winds up showcasing the same dual-threat abilities as a receiver and at-times rusher like he did during his rookie 2019 season.

After all, Samuel’s 961 all-purpose yards his first season were quite an accomplishment, particularly when looking at the fact 802 of them came through the air and nearly caught Hall of Famer Jerry Rice’s franchise record of 853 receiving yards in his rookie season back in 1985.

Opposing defenses are likely to key in on the 49ers’ other top offensive weapons, namely tight end George Kittle, while also respecting the rushing tendencies of Kyle Shanahan’s offense.

Provided players like Kittle end up drawing a lot of the attention at the second and third levels of the defense, Samuel should have no shortage of one-on-one opportunities where he can create plenty of yards after the catch.

And Samuel’s already-established ability to generate yards on jet sweeps and end-arounds makes him an easy contender to be the Niners’ top offensive weapon this season.